Why ACCC says electric cars are ‘unfair’

WEALTHY motorists who can afford flash electric cars are unfairly using roads for free at the expense of poorer drivers, consumer tsar Rod Sims said yesterday.

Mr Sims, who chairs the Federal Government's Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), said it was unfair that electric car owners were exempt from the 41 cent per litre fuel tax, which pays for roads.

"You could lower or remove the petrol excise and charge motorists when they use a road, or where they use it,'' he said.

"Technology can track where and when you're going.''

The Federal Government will pocket $13.4 billion in fuel excise this financial year, but spend just $6.6 billion on roads and rail.

The Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ) yesterday said Queensland would receive $1.78 billion in road funding this financial year - slightly more than what motorists will contribute in fuel excise.

RACQ head of public policy Rebecca Michael said Australia needs a "fairer and more sustainable'' way of paying for roads.

"With the rise of fuel efficient and ultra-low emission vehicles, this revenue stream is under threat and likely to result in less funding for road and rail into the future,'' she said yesterday.

"The current system is unfair as those with ultra-low emission vehicles are not contributing to the upkeep of the road network.